Camera Labs

Hi popo,

Yes, that AF mode switch isn't very evident in the official X100 video. It's much more evident in this video which also shows some live shots throught the viewfinder. Right at the end the sales girl mentions the use of black leather which is nice but then she incorrectly says the visible metal is aluminium. The press release specifies magnesium alloy.

By the way, am I the only one who is surprised that the optical viewfinder only covers 90% of the field? At the least I would have hoped for 100% and a slightly higher magnification and the rangefinder aficionados often praise the ability, depending on the lens in use, to see outside the image capture area. Obviously that can't work in EVF mode but I wonder if Fujiflim is misjudging its target audience by cropping the optical viewfinder in this way?

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I don't know how much it is necessary, but maybe the VF crop is to help compensate for the parallax errors? Or was there a variable gridline too? I can't remember...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hi popo,

Actually I would argue that the inevitable existence of parallax errors at close distances in OVF mode would favour an oversized view rather than a 90% crop. In the launch press conference video, available here, the speaker says that the information overlay when in OVF mode is corrected for parallax.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

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Hmm. The FinePix X100 micro-site has been saying that "The Story" will be "Coming Soon" for over two months. Maybe the Fuji guys live in the bottom of a very deep gravitational well (time dilation) so "soon" for them is a lot longer than "soon" for us.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi Bob,

lol..I check that site fairly frequently and I too am getting a little impatient!

If it takes anywhere near as good pictures as all the material shown so far, would indicate, I think this camera will become my take-everywhere unit.

Am quite excited to see if it lives up to expectations.

Cheers

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Nikon stuff and other stuff, but not nearly as much stuff as I really want!

Hi folks,

Those who signed up for email notifications will already have seen this but Fujifilm has clarified a couple of questions about the X100 at Focusing details revealed and RAW functionality explained. From either page you can also access answers to FAQs about Aesthetics, FUJINON Lens, APS-C CMOS Sensor & EXR Processor, Hybrid Viewfinder, Functions/Capabilities and Accessories & Pricing.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I can see lots of people desiring this but fewer actually buying one. Most enthusiasts would prefer an extra lens or 2 than this. It looks to be a great piece of kit, but it looks like it's aimed at a niche of a niche in the market.

I imagine that all the positive interest in this is more valuable than any profit they make from selling it, but then I thought the same about Olympus' PEN and look how popular that was!

It's definitely a luxury photographic item. I'd much rather have a m.4/3 with one of those fast pancakes for the same price.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/53061745@N02/

Panasonic G3: 9-18mm, 14mm, 20mm, 45mm

Lots of people are interested in various things, for example I'm "interested" in a D700 but I'm not likely to ever buy one! I think Fuji are onto something, but it is hard for someone to know if they are on the mark or not because of the forever "if only it had..." questioning. In practice, with my E-P1 I only use one lens on it 99.99% of the time. A small fast prime. If the X100 doesn't fall down in image quality and handling, it should easily beat the E-P1 in that role with its notorious Olympus interface. End of day, its sales will come down to two things: how well they make it, and at what price.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hi popo,

Couldn't agree more! Price might be an issue, though, as there's a very ugly rumour that the camera will be £1,000 here in the UK despite an expected price of $1,000 in the States - that's a significant mark-up even after taking account of tax and import duties. I sincerely hope that that rumour is false because there's no way I'm subsidising lower prices elsewhere in the world with what would definitely be a "nice to have" purchase.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I find that quite expensive for a camera.
It isnt a FF one, you can buy two Olympus PEN kits for that price. IF it will cost that much money, only rich people should buy them, I think.
Why should I pay so much money for a retro camera when there's lots of them atm?

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Turning that around, it's half the price of a used M8. Bargain!

The Pen series are quite different beyond anything other than a very basic comparison.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Looks like a nicly made machine, but due to the fixed 35mm lens the market will be very limited. As for price won't be cheep, but am sure far far less then the Leica if for no other reason non interchangable lens.

Dave

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Canon 40D, G10 and S90
17-40L 70-200F/4 L 50mm F/1.8II Speedlite 420 EX
Sigma 10-20mm.
Assorted older canon and sigma lens.

The proof is in the pudding as they say....don't they? Anyway, actual reviews from legit sources and some hands-on look-and-feel will provide the answer to just how attractive it really is.

Personally, I suspect that the technical image quality is going to be as higher, if not higher, than most DSLRs produce - if for no other reason than the fact that everything is optimized for just that one lens. And that one lens should be of pretty high quality.

But it's all conjecture on my part...now I just want to see the "pudding" so to speak..

Cheers

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Nikon stuff and other stuff, but not nearly as much stuff as I really want!

It has the A700 & D300 sensor, which is a good start.
Over $1K seems a bit high to me, 100% cool factor though.
http://www.vistek.ca/store/digitalcamer ... -x100.aspx
(couldn't find it on sponsor sites)

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Operations Manager at Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Products Division talks about the FinePix X100:

“Question: It has been said that the sensor used is similar to that seen in some Nikon SLR cameras, and therefore manufactured by Sony. Can this information be confirmed?
Answer: The sensor of the FinePixX100 is customized to match its lens. We should point out that the most important thing is not who produces the technology but the technology in itself, and in this sense Fujifilm optimizes its technologies depending on the photographic result being pursued at any given time.”

Chapter One of the story is up, and goes into some detail on the design choices leading to the fixed lens specification.

Doh! I was being blind at first and just found another page of it! There's a next page button at the bottom in case anyone else is as blind as me.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.